"What's Up, Doc?" released 1972

A day after its world premiere, What's Up, Doc?, starring Ryan O'Neal and Barbara Streisand, opened in theatres across the US, March 10, 1972.  It is full of slapstick humor, invoking the likes of Buster Keaton, and is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Madeline Kahn made her movie debut.  It also starred Kenneth Mars, Sorrel Booke (Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazard), Mabel Albertson (Samantha Steven's mother-in-law in Bewitched), and John Hillerman (Magnum P.I.).

The movie revolves around four identical, plaid, overnight bags. One contains a bag of "musical" rocks, one contains stolen, top-secret, government papers, one a collection of jewels, and the last clothes and a dictionary.  Confusion and slapstick comedy ensue.

It was the third highest-grossing movie of the year behind The Godfather and The Poseidon Adventure. Madeline Kahn was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance for Most Promising Newcomer - Female. 

What's Up, Doc? is recognized by the American Film Institute for AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs, and 100 Years...100 Passions. 

Remembering Louise Fletcher (1934-2022)

Versatile and talented actress Louise Fletcher, born July 22, 1934, passed away yesterday in France.  She is best known for her Best Lead Actress Oscar-winning role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The American Film Institute named Nurse Rached as #5 villain in the 100 Years of the Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains.  She won a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe for her performance.

For Trekkies like me, I liked her best as the antagonistic Kai Winn, later Vedek Winn in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.  She was nominated for 5 Online Film & Television Association Awards for her performances on Deep Space Nine.

"Creature from the Black Lagoon" released 1954

Another classic black & white sci-fi film, The Creature from the Black Lagoon was released March 5, 1954.  The story follows a scientific expedition in the Amazon River discovers a prehistoric creature and try to capture it for study.  

What could possibly go wrong?

It starred Richard Carlson (of Tormented in-fame) and Julie Adams.  It has been recognized by the American Film Institute in AFI's 100 years...100 Heroes & Villains.  It spawned two sequels.  

"Dracula" released 1931

The original motion picture Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, opened in theaters February 14, 1931.  How romantic!  Lugosi had appeared in the 1927 stage production on Broadway, which was based on the 1924 version in London.

The plays were based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.

The 1931 version of the movie was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

The American Film Institute has recognized Dracula as:

#85 100 Years...100 Thrills

#33 villain Count Dracula 100 Years...100  Heroes & Villains

#83 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes:  "Listen to them. Children of the night.  What music they make." - Count Dracula.

Margaret Hamilton, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, born 1902

Margaret Hamilton, born December 9, 1902 in Cleveland, Ohio, is fondly remembered for her role as the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz.  Although she played a mean witch, Hamilton was known to love children, an advocate for animal rights, and generally loved by casts and crews.  

Her role as the Wicked Witch of the West was ranked as #4 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 years of the Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains.

She passed away in May 1985 of a heart attack. 

"Arsenic and Old Lace" released 1944

Frank Capra's B&W comedy classic Arsenic and Old Lace was released September 23, 1944.  It starred Cary Grant and Peter Lorre.  Grant plays a novelist, who discovers that his two sweet, elderly aunts kill old men with poison and bury them in the cellar.

Boris Karloff wanted to reprise his role as Jonathan Brewster from the Broadway play, but was denied permission by the Broadway play producers.  He was not happy.

The American Film Institute listed it as one of the Top Funniest American Movies.

"Holiday Inn" released 1942

Holiday Inn, released in the US September 4, 1942, is best known for its score by Irving Berlin and the debut of White Christmas.  Starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, it won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, White Christmas.

The success of White Christmas led to the movie of the same name in 1954, also starring Bing Crosby. 

The American Film Institute listed White Christmas as No. 5 in its list of 100 Years...100 songs.

"Jaws" released 1975

Steven Spielberg's blockbuster Jaws was released into theaters June 20, 1975.  It starred Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfus.  It was based on the novel by Peter Benchley about a great white shark terrorizing the town of Amity, a beach community in New York.

It won three Academy Awards: Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best Original Score for John Williams. It was also nominated for Best Picture.  In 2001, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.  The American Film Institute has listed it as #48 on the list of the greatest American movies of all time.  John Williams' score has been listed as #6 on 100 Years of Film Scores.  It is ranked as the second-most thrilling movie behind Psycho. 

"Rebecca" released 1940

Rebecca, the movie based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier, was released across the US April 12, 1940.  Alfred Hitchcock directed it and received a Best Director nomination for an Oscar.  It won the Academy Award for Best Picture, David Selznick as producer. It also won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black and White.  It received 8 more nominations for a total of 11, including Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.

Rebecca has been honored by the American Film Institute.  It is #80 on AFI's 100 Thrills.  Mrs. Danvers, played by Dame Judith Anderson, is ranked as #31 on AFI's 100 Heroes and Villains.

It was selected by the Library of Congress in 2018 for preservation in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

"Dracula" released 1931

The cult classic Dracula, the first movie adaption of Bram Stoker's iconic horror novel, was released in the U.S. February 14, 1931.  What a Valentine's Day gift!

Bela Lugosi, who played Dracula in the stage production in 1927 played the title role. Dwight Frye appeared as Renfield and Edward Van Sloan as Van Helsing. 

The movie was overall met with positive reviews upon its release and it was one of the biggest hits of 1931.

In 2000, the movie was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".   It is recognized by the American Film Institute as #85 on 100 Thrills, #33 on 100 Heroes and Villains, #83 on 100 Movie Quotes:  "Listen to them.  Children of the night.  What music they make."

"The Day The Earth Stood Still" premieres 1951

Director Robert Wise's science-fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still was released September 18, 1951.  It starred a relatively unknown Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal. Although it was not a roaring success when released, it has become a classic, one of the best movies ever made says the New York Times. 

It won a Golden Globe in 1952 for Best Film Promoting International Understanding.  In 1995, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry as "culturally, historical, or aesthetically significant".

It is ranked #82 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills, the fifth best science-fiction film, 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains (for Klaatu in the heroes category), and 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes for "Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!".

"Rear Window" released 1954

Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Rear Window, starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly and Raymond Burr, was released across the US September 1, 1954.  It premiered in Los Angeles, New York City and Atlantic City in August.  It is considered by many people to be Hitchcock's best movie.

It was nominated for four Academy Awards.  The National Film Registry of the Library of Congress was selected for preservation as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The American Film Institute has included Rear Window as #42 in its 100 Years...100 Movies; #14 in AFI's 100 years...100 Thrills; and #3 in AFI's Top 10 Mysteries.

"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" released 1991

James Cameron released his blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day July 3, 1991, the sequel to the Terminator released in 1984.  Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton reprised their roles from the 1984 film.  This time, Arnold was the good guy and Robert Patrick was the shape-shifting bad guy.

It is ranked #43 on imdb.com's Top Rated Movie list and it won 4 Oscars: Best Sound; Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing; Best Effect, Visual Effects; and Best Makeup.  It was also nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.

The American Film Institute ranked the movie #77 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills; #48 on AFI's 100 years...100 Heroes and Villains.  Schwarzenegger's line "Hasta la vista, baby" is ranked at #76 of AFI's 100 years...100 Movie Quotes.  It is #8 on AFI's 10 top 10 in Science Fiction Films.

Dolly Parton's "9 To 5" reaches #1 1981

Goddess of country and pop music Dolly Parton successfully makes her crossover debut with her son 9 to 5, which rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in January and Billboard Hot 100 on February 21, 1981. She wrote for the movie of the same name with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.  Dolly became the second woman to top both country singles and Hot 100 with the same song.  (Jeannie C. Riley was the first in 1968 with Harper Valley PTA.)

It got her an Oscar nomination and four Grammy nominations.  She won for Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.  It has become an anthem for office workers across the U.S.  American Film Institute rated it #78 on its "100 years, 100 songs" list.

"Gone with the Wind" released 1940

Although Atlanta, New York City and Los Angeles got to see it in December 1939, the rest of the US saw the Civil War era pic Gone With the Wind in theaters January 17, 1940.  It won 8 (or 10, depending upon who you believe) Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Victor Fleming) and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Vivien Leigh.

Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to be nominated for and win an Academy Award, Best Supporting Actress.

Adjusted for inflation, Gone With the Wind is the highest-grossing movie of all time.  It is in the top 100 movies on about 8 different lists by American Film Institute. In 1989, Gone With the Wind was chosen for preservation by the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

"It's A Wonderful Life" premieres 1946

Another perennial favorite, It's a Wonderful Life premiered December 20, 1946 in New York City.  It premiered in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve and Minneapolis December 27.  The rest of the country had to wait until January 7, 1947 to see it.

It follows the story of George Bailey (played by James Stewart) who loses a load of money and is facing jail time and bankruptcy.  Considering suicide, he is about to jump off a bridge when an angel Clarence (Henry Travers) intervenes and shows George what the town would be like if he hadn't existed.  It has a really happily ever after ending, bordering almost on nonsensical but it's a favorite!

Initially, It's a Wonderful Life fared poorly at the box office, and did not win any of the 5 Oscars it was nominated for.  But now it's considered one of the best movies in every genre possible according to the American Film Institute.

"Carrie" released 1976

Stephen King's first novel Carrie was made into a movie and released November 16, 1976. (It had a limited release on November 3.)  Sissy Spacek played Carrie White, a shy, unpopular high school student who is constantly bullied by her classmates.  When she has her first period, she panics but then realizes she has developed telekinesis. 

In an act of cruelty, two of her classmates conspire to humiliate her at the prom, but things don't go quite as well as they planned.

Spacek received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and Piper Laurie, who played her mother, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.  Carrie is one of very few horror films to be nominated for more than one Academy Award nomination.  It was named one of the best movies of the year and grossed over $33.8M.  It is ranked as No. 46 of the American Film Institute's list of 100 Greatest Cinema Thrills.  The climax at the prom is ranked as 8th on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.

"Dial M for Murder" released 1954

Another of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces, Dial M for Murder was released May 29, 1954.  It stars Grace Kelly as the cheating wife, and Ray Milland as her scheming husband.  It's a tale of blackmail, murder and double-crossing. 

It is listed by the American Film Institute as #48 of Top 100 Thrills and #9 of its Top 10 Mysteries. 

Only Hitchcock could make waiting for a door lock to move suspenseful.

Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" released 1963

Alfred Hitchcock released his horror masterpiece The Birds March 29, 1963 (the premiere was the day before in New York City).

Based on a story by Daphne du Maurier (Rebecca), it tells the story of a small coastal town in California inexplicably attacked by thousands of birds.  It starred Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright and Jessica Tandy.

It was nominated for an Academy Awards for Best Effects, Special Visual Effects (but lost to Cleopatra?[WTF?]).  Tippe Hedren won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer - Female.  The Birds has been honored by the American Film Institute as the seventh greatest thriller.  Bravo awarded the scene when the birds attack the town as 96th on the 100 Scariest Movie Moments.

It won the Horror Hall of Fame award in 1991.

In 2016, it was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the U.S. Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.